/etc/shadow File Fields ??

lensem · 10-15-2010, 11:32 AM

We are running Red Hat Linux 5.5 and I've noticed some differences in the /etc/shadow file on some of our servers...

On some of the entries, fields 5, 6, and 7 are coded as I would expect, as this is what is in /etc/login.defs...
user1:KMcidSND/gLdw:14873:0:90:7:7::

But on some users, there is nothing coded in these fields, as in following...
user2:KMcidSND/gLdw:14684::::::

If these fields are not defined, what do they default to ??

pljvaldez · 10-15-2010, 12:00 PM

http://tldp.org/LDP/lame/LAME/linux-...e-formats.html

lensem · 10-16-2010, 07:13 AM

I understand what each field in the /etc/shadow file means...

My question is, If fields 5 and 6 are blank, what does it default to ?? is it the same as coding 99999 ??

unSpawn · 10-16-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lensem

I understand what each field in the /etc/shadow file means...

If you do then you can answer your question by selecting one user account who has a "99999" field value and one that has an empty value, run 'chage -l' on the two accounts and compare output.